Humidity

As we sweat through an unseasonably warm winter, South Florida might feel like one of the most humid regions in the country. Yet the frizz in your hair and the sweat on your brow are deceiving. Of 255 U.S. cities surveyed by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, about 55 are more humid than here, including places in Alaska, Indiana and Tennessee. Make no mistake, South Florida's feels-like temperatures, combining heat and humidity, are among the highest in the nation - mainly because the weather is usually hot year-round.

It should be a great day for Cinco de Mayo revelers, sunny and warm. The rest of the week also should be mostly sunny and pleasant, though on the hot side, at least in the afternoons. South Florida's Monday forecast calls for sunny skies with afternoon highs in the mid 80s and overnight lows in the upper 60s. It also should be breezy. Tuesday should be a degree warmer. Cinco de Mayo marks the Mexican army's victory over France at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, during the Franco-Mexican War. It also is a celebration of Mexico's heritage and pride.

Summertime isn't far away, as heat and humidity already are building in the atmosphere. South Florida's Monday forecast calls for mostly sunny skies with afternoon highs in the upper 80s and evening readings in the low 70s. There is a 20 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms. The rain chance increases slightly on Tuesday. Expect afternoons to remain borderline hot for the rest of the week. Central Florida's Monday forecast: Partly sunny with highs in the upper 80s and lows in the upper 60s. There is a 50 percent chance of showers and storms.

The rainy season normally begins on May 20 but in the past 15 years it has started five days earlier on average. The likely cause is increased humidity due to warming ocean temperatures, and the season is likely to start early again this year, said Jim Lushine, a retired forecaster. That could translate to an extra inch of rain, which could help shorten the wildfire season and prevent water shortages, he said. The rainy season on average ends Oct. 17. - Ken Kaye

South Florida's long rainy season creates unique humid climate conditions and special challenges for local builders and designers, according to the U.S. Green Building Council South Florida chapter. The group is hosting its first-ever all-day Tropical Green Educational Conference Sept. 20, at the Hyatt Pier 66 in Fort Lauderdale. Building and construction professionals will network and present breakout sessions to discuss best practices in commercial and residential design, construction, ownership, sustainability, and conservation of resources.

The cooler temperatures that have blanketed South Florida in recent days, especially during the morning hours, will be moving out as temperatures start warming up. According to the National Weather Service, morning temperatures in the high 50s and 60s Thursday will give way to a high near 78 during the afternoon as the winds shift from the northwest to come out of the east at 7 to 13 mph. The humidity has already risen to more than 90 percent -...

Submit questions at SunSentinel.com/swineflu . We will answer as many as possible. Does humidity affect the swine flu virus? Apparently yes. A study this year confirmed what flu researchers have thought since 1948: Flu viruses live longer on surfaces outside the body and spread more easily when the humidity is low and the air is dry. Although no one is sure why, one study found the vast majority of flu virus dies within an hour when...

Forget the charges of corked bats and lively balls -- and just poor pitching. The reason for the home run blitz is the combination of high heat and high humidity, according to the Weather Channel. "Any object, be it a baseball, a frying pan or a boomerang, will travel farther when both the temperature and the humidity are high," said Joe D`Aleo, the director of meteorology at the Weather Channel.

If Tuesday`s weather felt like a breath of fresh air, there was good reason. The relative humidity was lower than it had been in several days, and it should stay that way through today. Robert Molleda of the National Weather Service in Coral Gables said the lower relative humidity combined with slightly lower temperatures made it more comfortable outside. Residents can thank a northwesterly wind, which is drier than the normal eastern breeze, Molleda said. But enjoy it while it lasts, because the high humidity should return on Thursday, he said.

Let's eavesdrop on a little chat room traffic, shall we? Under the subject heading "Bread gone kaflooey," pastrygal writes, "I've been making the same bread recipe for several months now. Last week, my bread went nuts! Rose like it was supposed to but died in the oven! Skin a little wrinkly! Weather was hot as blazes and it was extremely humid. Could that have affected it?" Pastrygal is shaken and holding it together by the merest thread. Kindly bread bakers flock electronically to her side to chafe her wrists and apply cool cloths to her damp and pallid forehead.

Did you ever think of growing your own chocolate? While it won't produce little foil-covered bars, the Theobroma cacao tree does produce the foundation for chocolate. Its genus name, Theobroma, means something like "food of the gods. " The ancient Olmecs, Mayans and Aztecs certainly considered it so. They discovered, more than 2,500 years ago, that the seeds of the tree could be fermented, roasted and ground into a drink, often mixing it with spices, honey or ground corn. The Mayans even exchanged the valuable cacao during wedding ceremonies.

The cooler temperatures that have blanketed South Florida in recent days, especially during the morning hours, will be moving out as temperatures start warming up. According to the National Weather Service, morning temperatures in the high 50s and 60s Thursday will give way to a high near 78 during the afternoon as the winds shift from the northwest to come out of the east at 7 to 13 mph. The humidity has already risen to more than 90 percent -...

South Florida's long rainy season creates unique humid climate conditions and special challenges for local builders and designers, according to the U.S. Green Building Council South Florida chapter. The group is hosting its first-ever all-day Tropical Green Educational Conference Sept. 20, at the Hyatt Pier 66 in Fort Lauderdale. Building and construction professionals will network and present breakout sessions to discuss best practices in commercial and residential design, construction, ownership, sustainability, and conservation of resources.

Keep an eye on Advantix Systems, a company opening its world headquarters in Sunrise on Tuesday and winning accolades for innovations in air conditioning. Advantix has nearly doubled sales this year, thanks to its patented technology in air conditioners. The machines use at least 30 percent less energy and slash humidity, helping hospitals, pharmaceutical plants, hotels and other businesses that need drier and cleaner air to operate. The air conditioners have been recognized with a Stevie American Business Award, an international food technology award and an article in The Economist magazine this year.

Florida has a lot to be proud of. Our state is weird, humid, trashy and popular. So says Google. In everyday inquiries, users enjoy asking the online search engine giant: Why is Florida so weird? So humid? So trashy? So popular? The questions came from Google's auto-complete function, which provides users with options based on other people's searches - and they're enough to make us preen like a peacock or hide behind a palm tree. It all started with the "No Upside" blog , in which Renee DiResta recently examined how Americans viewed or stereotyped residents throughout the 50 states.

Expect another hot day in Florida, although it shouldn't be quite as humid, thanks to drier air moving in. South Florida's Wednesday forecast: Mostly sunny with highs in the upper 80 and lows in the upper 70s. There is a 20 percent chance of showers and storms, mainly in the afternoon. Thursday's forecast is similar. Central Florida's Wednesday forecast: Partly sunny with highs in the low 90s, lows in the upper 70s and a 30 percent chance of rain. The rain chance decreases slight on Thursday.

As we sweat through an unseasonably warm winter, South Florida might feel like one of the most humid regions in the country. Yet the frizz in your hair and the sweat on your brow are deceiving. Of 255 U.S. cities surveyed by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, about 55 are more humid than here, including places in Alaska, Indiana and Tennessee. Make no mistake, South Florida's feels-like temperatures, combining heat and humidity, are among the highest in the nation — mainly because the weather is usually hot year-round.

Palm Beach County South Florida's conditions of high temperatures and high humidity create special challenges to individuals who are closing their Florida home for the summer. To offer assistance, the Palm Beach County Co-operative Extension Service is offering "Closing Your Florida Home." Learn to deal with humidity, air-conditioning timers, humidstats, hurricanes, intruders and more. Information packets will be available for $5 at the presentation. The program will take place at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the West Atlantic Library, 7777 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, and at 2 p.m. April 12 at the Southwest Regional Library, 20701 95th Ave. S., Boca Raton.

Summertime isn't far away, as heat and humidity already are building in the atmosphere. South Florida's Monday forecast calls for mostly sunny skies with afternoon highs in the upper 80s and evening readings in the low 70s. There is a 20 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms. The rain chance increases slightly on Tuesday. Expect afternoons to remain borderline hot for the rest of the week. Central Florida's Monday forecast: Partly sunny with highs in the upper 80s and lows in the upper 60s. There is a 50 percent chance of showers and storms.

As we sweat through an unseasonably warm winter, South Florida might feel like one of the most humid regions in the country. Yet the frizz in your hair and the sweat on your brow are deceiving. Of 255 U.S. cities surveyed by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, about 55 are more humid than here, including places in Alaska, Indiana and Tennessee. Make no mistake, South Florida's feels-like temperatures, combining heat and humidity, are among the highest in the nation — mainly because the weather is usually hot year-round.